Police Arrest Suspect In Kennedy Twp. Fatal Shooting

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting over the weekend in Kennedy Township.

According to the arrest warrant, several witnesses cooperated and helped detectives identify the suspect. Detectives say Israel Moon, 21, is the only person facing criminal charges at this time.

He surrendered to police on Tuesday afternoon.

“They were adamant about turning their son in safely and peacefully, and so was Israel, and I think it takes a lot of courage to do this,” said defense attorney Blaine Jones. “He’s going to turn himself in. He’s not running, he’s not hiding. I believe officers came to their home this morning, and they contacted me, and they wanted to do the right thing from that moment.”

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Detectives released a Facebook photo of the suspect early Tuesday morning and asked for anyone with information on Moon’s whereabouts to please call 911, or the county tip line.

Neighbor Jacob Barthelemy said he heard a lot of commotion on Saturday afternoon, but didn’t hear any gunshots.

“All these cars were coming up and down and I had people yelling at me to move my truck and no one knew what was going on and finally somebody said someone was shot,” said Barthelemy.

Police said a group of teens met up at a home on Kennedy Lane to watch two teenagers fight around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Detectives say Moon brought a gun to that fight and fired his weapon into the group of people standing nearby. His bullet struck and killed 18-year-old Jassim Al-Maleky.

Jassim Al-Maleky (Photo Credit: Facebook)

“It seems like the two groups gathered to support their respective [friends] in the fight and one of the bystanders started shooting at the other group,” said Allegheny County Police Homicide Unit Lt. Andrew Schurman. “We don’t think he singled out one of the other individuals, but rather he shot randomly at the group.”

Neighbors used T-shirts to try to stop Al-Maleky’s bleeding after he yelled out saying he was hit. KDKA-TVs cameras rolled as investigators talked to several of the teenagers on the scene.

Detectives believe Moon then left the scene after most of the teenagers ran for cover.

(Photo Courtesy: Allegheny County Jail)

“This is something you would never expect anything like this and it’s kind of heartbreaking that it would happen in a neighborhood like this with especially young children around,” said Barthelemy.

KDKA’s Meghan Schiller Reports:

Moon is facing charges for criminal homicide and carrying a firearm without a license. Police say Moon goes by the nickname “Izzy” and frequently visited the South Side recording studio known as the “Hotbox.”

He is now being held at the Allegheny County Jail to await arraignment.